Buccaneers Lose To Saints, Fall Out Of Division Race

In a 16-11 loss to Tampa Bay on December 11, Brees was picked off three times and did not have a touchdown pass but he had his way against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Rodgers had 15 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. He picked off two passes to flip the momentum of the game in New Orleans' favor, and he earned some love from Head Coach Sean Payton.

NEW ORLEANS KEY TRENDS: The Saints are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine divisional games, are 6-2 against the number in their last eight conference games, and are 8-3 at the betting window in their last 11 games overall.

Brees finished 23-of-34 for 299 yards and his 35th touchdown pass of the season.

Despite missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, Brees said he senses something special building, especially with the playmaking ability of young Saints such as wide receivers Brandin Cooks (five catches for 98 yards) and Michael Thomas (six catches for 98), safety Vonn Bell and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.

Buccaneers Lose To Saints, Fall Out Of Division Race

Mike Evans caught a 34-yard touchdown pass late in the third-quarter.

After Josh Huff muffed the opening kickoff of the second half to force Jameis Winston to start at his own 4-yard line, Winston then made it worse.

"You look at Tampa Bay, not so fast. the last time the Buccaneers swept the Saint was is in 2007, and that did not occur today!" Being unable to recover the onside kick, the Buccaneers would give up multiple big runs to Mark Ingram and the Saints would run out the clock. However, before even taking the field on Saturday, the Saints' playoff chances ended.

The Saints were well on their way to an impressive reply the the Bucs' score, but Cooks dropped a pass that would have moved the chains at the Tampa 20 on 3rd and three. The 10-play drive gobbled up over four minutes. The third-year pro is tied for first in the NFC with 10 touchdown receptions. New Orleans held a 208-97 edge in total offense.

Tampa Bay will now need to defeat Carolina as well as for Detroit to lose each of their final two matchups and Washington to lose their finale in order to capture the second wild card.